ACT Score Confussion

<p>Maybe they changed things starting with 2010, but this is copy and pasted directly from the document I am looking at:</p>

<p>A candidate application package consists of the following:
1. SAT/ACT Test Results. All tests taken after December of the candidate’s
junior year in high school will be accepted.
2. High School Transcripts. The Academy requires four years of math through
trigonometry, four years of English, one year of chemistry, and suggests two
years of modern foreign language, one year of physics, one year of U.S.
history and one year of European or world history.
3. High School Teacher’s Recommendations. One each from a math and
English teacher.
*** i guess eliminated *** 4. Strong Interest Inventory (SCII). Measures interest in two areas: engineering
and science, and career retention.
5. Extracurricular Activities (ECA). Important in evaluating leadership
potential. Quality of participation as opposed to quantity should be stressed.
6. Personal Data Record. Requests personal information about the candidate and his or her parents. Two important parts of this form include the Personal
Statement, which must accompany the form, and the disclosure of any
citations, arrests, convictions, or fines.
*** now the CFA *** 7. Physical Aptitude Exam (PAE). A required physical fitness test that the candidate must pass prior to receipt of an appointment.</p>

<p>According to the USNA catalog:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Other Qualifications Necessary for Admission</p>

<p>You must:
• be found qualified to compete for an appointment by the Naval Academy admissions board;
• be medically qualified;
• complete the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) used by all service academies; and
• receive an official nomination from one of many sources available</p>

<p>You are then eligible to compete for an appointment.</p>

<p>How to Become Competitive for Admission</p>

<p>To improve your chances of qualifying scholastically, your high school preparation should include the following:
• mathematics — four years of mathematics courses, including a strong foundation in geometry, algebra and trigonometry. Courses in pre-calculus or calculus are also very valuable and encouraged.
• science — one year of chemistry, with lab if possible.
• English — four years of course work with special attention to the study and practice of effective writing. Surveys of English and American literature are especially helpful as background for future study of literature.</p>

<p>To further enhance your competitiveness for admission, the following courses are also recommended:
• foreign language — at least two years. Course work should include regular
use of the spoken language and encompass elementary syntax and grammar.
• physics — one year, with a lab if possible.
• history — one full year of U.S. history and, where possible, a full year of European or world history.
• computer skills — familiarity with the use of personal computers, including Windows, word processing, spreadsheets and the Internet.</p>

<p>To demonstrate your ability to meet the physical and time management demands of four years at the Naval Academy, you should take part in athletic and non-athletic extracurricular activities. Since every midshipman is involved in physical exercise every day at the Academy, it is important that you get in excellent physical condition while still in high school. Plebe Summer is not the time to try to whip yourself into shape. Since we are also interested in your leadership potential, as well as your ability to manage your time, we will carefully consider your non-athletic activities and record of part-time employment or military service to evaluate your versatility and ability to accept responsibility. And, by all means, stay away from illegal drugs and abuse of alcohol.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Like I said, things might have changed. I got this information from a paper composed by a Marine Officer that took place during the Class of 2009 cycle. </p>

<p>This paper goes more into depth about the process than what is stated in the catalog. I will make sure to find this information out because I sometimes appear at admission functions, therefore I should know the correct answer.</p>

<p>Edit: Navy 20-10 @ UCONN 1st Half</p>

<p>A marine officer, huh! That explains everything. :D</p>

<p>Do you guys still call the janitors MOCs (Marine Officer Candidates)?</p>

<p>Definitely not.</p>

<p>Well it's safe to say there's confusion on this that doesn't matter anyway for those who've gotten the LOAs thus far. </p>

<p>However your point jadler is on the $$. Or at least HAS BEEN on the $$. </p>

<p>What the 2005 Congressional Guidelines say is that scores taken BEFORE Jan, junior year won't be used. As I said, mine are listed on the app. however. </p>

<p>The exact wording in the Congressional Guidelines is ...</p>

<p>"For purposes of admission, the Naval Academy will use the highest scores achieved on tests taken after December of the 11th grade in high school/secondary school."</p>

<p>And prior to that sentence it confirms that the January (of senior year) SAT and February (of senior year) are the last acceptable scores. Or as they say, none thereafter will be acceptable.</p>

<p>It seems the point is that they want to measure all at about the same time ... and they want that to be in the spring of junior, fall of senior years.</p>

<p>So it seems unclear, or as we might say here, confussing. ;) For sure I am.</p>

<p>
[quote]
And prior to that sentence it confirms that the January (of senior year) SAT and February (of senior year) are the last acceptable scores. Or as they say, none thereafter will be acceptable.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Obviously, this wording needs clarification since not all candidates are seniors in high school. The academy has applicants at NAPS, in prep school, and in the fleet. They accept SAT and ACT scores from those candidates up through the January test prior to the year of entry.</p>

<p>WP,</p>

<p>Can you send me a copy of those Congressional Guidelines or provide a link?</p>

<p>This might be what WP is talking about. It was posted on the Parents Forum a while back.</p>

<p><a href="http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:m3zGkrwtD1cJ:https://admissions.usafa.af.mil/RR/Congressional%2520Guide.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:m3zGkrwtD1cJ:https://admissions.usafa.af.mil/RR/Congressional%2520Guide.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Yea,i believe that's it. Page 13, 2nd or 3rd para.</p>

<p>It is on page 13 paragraph 2.</p>

<p>The 2005 Congressional Guide is exactly what the title states -- it is merely a guide. The guide is an aid prepared for Members of Congress to assist in the sponsoring of applicants and candidates seeking nominations and appointments to service academies.</p>

<p>The Congressional Guide is not statutory nor is it codified in Title 10, United States Code. As such, it is not the law of the land.</p>

<p>The guide states:</p>

<p>
[quote]
In endeavoring to select the best applicants as nominees, Members of Congress should consider the same factors that are considered by the Naval Academy in selecting candidates for appointment.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The guide then proceeds to describe the factors used by the Naval Academy to determine the whole-person evaluation. Those factors change from year to year, are determined by the academy, and are administrative in nature. There is no statute mandating minimum scores for each section of the CFA for example. Nor is there a statute restricting which SAT-I or ACT tests will be considered by the academy.</p>

<p>The factors described in the 2005 guide probably mirrored the factors used by the academy to determine the whole-person evaluation during 2004 (or possibly earlier). You have to remember that the Government doesn't crank out these types of documents overnight. Normally, they try to update these types of documents on a five-year cycle which means that they become obsolete rather quickly.</p>

<p>An example of obsolete gouge is found on page 13, where the guide states that the basic requirement for vision is normal (20/20). The basic requirement has been changed to 20/40 without a waiver.</p>

<p>Otherwise, the Congressional Guide is very enlightening and parallels the information contained in the USNA catalog.</p>